Exercise effective for intermittent claudication

High-quality evidence showed exercise therapy played an important part in the care of selected patients with IC, improving pain-free walking times and distances. Effects were demonstrated following 3 months of supervised exercise, although some programmes lasted longer than 1 year. Limited data suggested an effect was sustained for up to 2 years. Exercise did not improve ankle brachial index, and there were no differences in the effect of exercise between groups in terms of amputation or mortality. Exercise might improve quality of life when compared with placebo or usual care.